HAMPTON,  VA.: 

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WINNING  AN  EMPIRE. 

y~~  by , 

WvW'CAWv  Uo  ppln  oe.r 

Among  the  notable  movements  of  the  time  is  the  material  and 
religious  progress  going  on  in  Africa.  That  vast  region,  still  far  be- 
hind the  rest  of  the  world,  is  advancing  rapidly  into  the  light.  Di- 
plomacy, science,  exploration  and  commerce  on  the  one  hand,  and 
colonization  and  missionary  influence  on  the  other,  are  opening 
the  Continent  and  establishing  the  Gospel  of  Peace.  No  portion 
of  the  earth  will  make  in  the  last  quarter  of  this  century  more 
progress  than  Africa. 

GOVERNMENTAL. 

Africa  is  the  scene  at  present  of  armed  expeditions  and  treaties 
with  native  tribes,  similar  to  those  which  marked  the  first  settlement 
of  America.  England,  France,  Portugal,  Germany  and  Italy  are 
pushing  forward  to  obtain  titles  to  the  country. 

England  has  “ annexed  ” some  forty  miles  of  coast  line  territory  to 
her  colony  of  Sierra  Leone,  taking  it  from  the  feeble  Republic  of  Liberia, 
assumes  control  in  Basuto  land,  has  appointed  Capt.  Foot, 
R.  N.  Consul  in  the  Nyassa  country  and  adjoining  lake  districts, 
and  is  making  her  strong  arm  felt  in  other  portions  of  the  Continent. 

France  continues  encroachments  in  Madagascar,  and  is  forcing 
her  way  on  the  Senegal  and  towards  the  headwaters  of  the  Niger.  She 
has  taken  King  Tofa,  of  Porto  Novo,  under  her  protection,  threatens 
to  “ annex  ” the  coast  from  the  Gaboon  to  the  Congo — some  two 
hundred  and  fifty  miles — is  extending  her  possessions  inland  on  the 
Gaboon,  and  claims  the  commerce  of  the  Ogove,  and  through  the  latter 
is  running  her  lines  to  Stanley  Pool,  on  the  ‘upper  Congo.  The 
Chamber  of  Duputies  has  granted  the  De  Brazza  mission  a credit  of 
1,275,000  francs,  by  a vote  of  449  to  3. 

Portugal  has  opened  negotiations  with  the  British  government 
looking  to  the  cession  of  Whydah  to  England,  in  return  for  the  ac- 
knowledgment by  the  latter  of  the  sovereignty  of  Portugal  over  ter- 
ritories at  the  mouth  of  the  Congo.  The  Portuguese  government 
has  appointed  the  explorers  Capello  and  Ivens,  to  complete  their 
tour  and  map  of  Angola,  and  to  examine  the  Congo  country.  The 
Official  Gazette  of  Angola,  October  11,  publishes  a circular  from  the 
Governor,  addressed  to  the  foreign  consuls  at  that  place,  informing 

Note. — For  many  of  the  facts  in  this  article  the  writer  is  indebted  to  the  Christ- 
ian Advocate  of  New  York,  Missionary  Herald  of  Boston,  Foreign  Missionary  of 
New  York,  African  Times  of  London,  and  L’Aprique  Explores  of  Geneva. 


2 


EXP  LORA  TIONS. 


them  of  the  occupation  of  Chi  Loango,  and  the  establishment  of  Por- 
tuguese authority  at  Kacongo  and  Massabi.  A treaty  is  reported  be- 
tween the  Sultan  of  Zanzibar  and  Portugal,  interdicting  slavery  and 
the  slave  trade  by  the  subjects  of  each. 

The  German  Reichstag  has  increased  its  annual  appropriation  of 
75,000  to  100,000  marks  for  the  exploration  of  Africa.  Rohlfs  is  in 
Abyssinia,  the  bearer  of  a communication  to  King  John  from  the  Em- 
peror of  Germany.  This  famous  explorer  is  favorably  impressed  with 
the  Abyssinians,  and  predicts  a bright  future  for  them  if  they  are 
fairly  treated. 

Italy  has  dispatched  a party  to  Abyssinia  for  geographical  and 
mercantile  purposes,  and  to  prosecute  investigations  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  new  colony  of  Assab.  To  promote  these  objects  the 
government  has  granted  20,000  liras.  Italy  has  also  concluded  three 
treaties  which  promise  to  make  Assab  a centre  of  commerce.  They 
. include  a convention  of  commerce  and  friendship  with  the  King  of 
Shoa,  the  Sultan  of  Aussa,  and  the  chiefs  of  the  Danakil  tribes.  The 
caravans  from  Assab  to  Shoa,  and  vice  versa,  will,  in  future,  be  pro- 
tected by  these  rulers. 

The  Sultan  of  Morocco  has  authorized  Spain  to  take  possession 
of  Santa  Cruz  del  Mar.  The  Sultan  of  Zanzibar  has  purchased  the 
steamers  Malacca,  Merka  and  Ovoca,  formerly  the  property  of  the 
Peninsular  and  Oriental  Company.  To  these  must  he  added  the 
Nyanza,  Akala  and  Swordsman.  It  is  announced  that  these  six  su- 
perior vessels  are  intended  to  form  a regular  coast  service  in  the 
interest  of  commerce  and  for  the  suppression  of  the  slave  trade. 

EXPLORATIONS. 

Mr.  Joseph  Thomson  has  left  Mombasa  to  conduct  investigations 
about  Mount  Kenia  in  the  hope  of  finding  an  easier  and 
more  direct  route  to  the  eastern  shores  of  the  Victoria  Nyanza. 
Consul  H.  E.  O’Neil  is  to  lead  an  expedition  of  observation  from 
Mozambique  to  the  Nyassa.  A French  expedition  has  been  organ- 
ized to  follow  up  De  Brazza's  discoveries.  M.  Revoil  has  started  from 
Marseilles  for  Zanzibar  on  a scientific  mission  to  the  East  Coast  and 
the  interior.  Dr.  Holub  is  planning  a four-years’  examination  of  the 
central  regions  of  South  Africa.  Drs.  Bachmann  and  Wilms  have 
commenced  a journey  of  several  years  in  the  Transvaal,  having  special 
reference  to  its  botany  and  zoology.  Dr.  H.  R.  Flegel  has  been  en- 
gaged for  three  years  in  making  a survey  of  the  Niger  and  of  its  tribu- 
tary, the  Binue.  The  sources  of  the  latter,  according  to  his  report,  he 
has  succeeded  in  discovering.  Dr.  Herr  Krause  is  to  make  an  inves- 
tigation of  the  languages  and  social  status  of  the  people  about  the 


COMMERCIAL. 


3 


Niger  and  lake  Tsad.  Two  Portuguese  naval  officers,  Lieut.  Cardosa 
and  Dr.  Franco,  have  set  out  from  Mozambique  for  Imbambane,  and 
thence  to  Umzila's.  Their  object,  in  part,  is  the  development  of  cer- 
tain mines  near  Manica.  M.  Girand  has  gone  to  the  Bangweola  to 
survey  the  Zambesi  and  thence  the  Moero  and  Congo.  The  Geogra- 
phical Society  of  Hamburg  is  to  send  a party,  lead  by  Dr.  Fischer,  to 
cross  the  Snow  mountains  and  then  penetrate  to  the  north  of  the 
Gallas  country.  A meteorological  station  is  to  be  founded  on  the 
Cameroon  mountains,  of  which  M.  Rogozinski  is  to  be  chief. 

Captain  Casati  has  succeeded  in  traversing  the  country  of  the 
Niams-Niams.  Dr.  Pogge  and  Lieut.  Wissmann  have  successfully 
crossed  the  Continent.  A report  of  their  journey  has  been  given  by 
the  latter,  from  which  it  appears  that  in  going  from  the  West  Coast 
to  Nyangwe,  on  the  Lualaba,  they  passed  several  fine  tribes  of  natives. 
The  Tushilange  and  Basonge  are  spoken  of  as  friendly,  laborious  and 
skilled  in  many  of  the  industrial  arts.  After  crossing  the  Lubilash.a 
tributary  of  the  Congo,  they  came  upon  the  Beneki,  a tribe  whose 
villages  are  described  as  models  : well  built  and  clean,  the  houses  sur- 
rounded by  gardens  and  palm  trees.  Some  of  these  villages  are  so 
large  that  four  or  five  hours  were  spent  in  marching  through,  and  the 
population  is  estimated  as  numbering  hundreds  of  thousands.  The 
people  are  agricultural  and  well-to-do.  Further  on  towards  Nyan- 
gwe, the  population  Was  dense.  From  this  point,  memorable  in  con- 
nection with  Livingstone  and  Stanley’s  explorations,  Dr  Pogge  re- 
turned westward,  while  Lieut.  Wissmann  went  eastward,  crossing  lake 
Tanganyika  to  Ujiji,  and  on  by  way  of  Mirambo’s  and  Mpwapwa  to 
Zanzibar.  Dr.  Stecker  has  returned  from  his  five  years'  exploring 
tour,  and,  besides  his  travels  in  company  with  Rohlfs,  he  reports 
about  a dozen  countries  discovered  by  himself  alone,  east  of  South 
Abyssinia,  which  no  European  had  before  entered. 

M.  Ferdinand  De  Lesseps  has  returned  to  Paris  after  spending 
a month  in  Tunis  to  inspect  the  course  of  the  proposed  canal  which 
is  to  let  in  the  waters  of  the  Mediterranean,  and  by  flooding  the 
Chotts,  to  create  an  inland  sea  fourteen  times  as  large  as  the  lake  of 
Geneva.  A favorable  report  on  the  scheme  has  been  made  by  the 
commission  of  contractors  who  accompanied  him. 

COMMERCIAL. 

The  National  African  Company  of  London  declared,  in  April,  an 
a d interim  dividend  on  its  shares  at  the  rate  of  ten  per  cent,  per  an- 
num. A joint  stock  company  had  been  incorporated  at  Brussels,  to 
be  known  as  the  “ Belgian  Company  of  African  Merchants,”  with  a 
capital  of  _£io,ooo.  Of  this  sum  about.  £p.,ooo  was  used  in  the  pur- 


4 


BANKING. 


chase  of  the  ship  Akassa.  It  is  intended  to  increase  the  funds  of  the  com- 
pany until  it  has  a capital  of  600,000  francs,  and  ultimately  two  or  even 
five  millions  of  francs.  Care  should  be  taken  to  avoid  confusing  this 
organization  with  the  International  African  Association,  and  the 
Comite  des  Etudes  des  Haul  Congo. 

A German  colony  has  been  commenced  at  the  bay  of  Angra  Pe- 
quena,  about  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles  north  of  the  Orange  river. 
Three  hundred  square  miles  is  its  area,  purchased  by  a Bremen  com- 
mercial house.  The  bay  forms  a superior  harbor,  stretching  for  some 
ten  miles  into  the  land  and  affording  good  shelter  for  vessels  on  a 
coast  otherwise  almost  devoid  ol  harbors.  Little  Namaquland,  on  the 
south  of  the  Orange  river,  belonging  to  Cape  Colony,  has  for  years 
been  known  for  its  abundance  of  copper  ore,  although  the  mining  en- 
terprises have  hitherto  been  followed  with  miserable  results,  with  the 
exception  of  that  of  the  Ookiep  mines  of  the  Cape  Copper  Mining 
Company.  These  mines  are  situated  at  Springbok  Fontien,  from 
which  a railway  of  sixty  miles  takes  the  ore  to  the  coast  at  Robben 
Bay,  whence  it  is  shipped  to  England.  The  Germans  intend  to  make 
a thorough  examination  of  their  newly  acquired  territory  in  the  con- 
fident expectation  of  meeting  with  copper  there  also.  A two. 
masted  schooner  has  been  sent  from  Bremen  to  Augra  Paquena, 
with  coffee,  sugar,  salted  meat  and  other  goods,  for  carrying  on  trade 
with  the  natives.  The  schooner  itself  is  intended  to  keep  up  regular 
communication  between  the  new  colony  and  Cape  Town.  The  Ger- 
man government  has  so  far  marked  its  approval  of  this  colonial  en- 
terprise by  permitting  the  national  flag  to  be  raised  over  the  settle- 
ment, so  that  the  trading  station  may  be  regarded  as  a sort  of  tenta- 
tive German  colony. 

A society  has  been  formed  in  Paris  to  aid  in  the  elevation  of 
Africa  through  enlightened  civilization.  While  keeping  its  work  dis- 
tinct from  that  of  missions,  properly  so  called,  it  will  encourage  mis- 
sionaries, European  or  native,  especially  those  who  have  advanced 
furthest  into  the  interior,  by  furnishing  them  with  portable  canoes, 
medicines,  tents,  seeds  for  vegetables  and  fruits,  mechanical  tools  and 
agricultural  implements. 

BANKING. 

The  Commercial  Bank  of  West  Africa  was  opened  at  Sierra 
Leone  in  January.  It  marks  a wide  step  in  the  advancing  civilization 
of  the  coast  that  this  effort  should  be  made  by  an  enlightened  native 
African,  Dr.  J.  A.  B.  Horton,  author  of  several  valuable  works  on  the 
diseases  of  Western  Africa,  and  whose  death,  October  15,  is  viewed 
as  a public  misfortune. 


GOLD  MINES.  LOADS.  STEAMSHIPS. 


5 


OOLD  MINES. 

Several  of  the  West  African  Gold  Mining  Companies  have  passed 
from  clearing  the  forest  and  building  and  tunneling,  to  cutting  aurifer- 
ous lodes  and  erecting  improved  machinery  and  stamping.  The  first 
proceeds  of  crushing  at  the  mines  of  the  African  Gold  Coast  Compa- 
ny — the  pioneer  organization — consisting  of  one  hundred  ounces  of 
fine  gold,  has  reached  Liverpool.  The  yield  is  stated  to  have  been 
^5  per  ton.  Consignments  of  gold  of  a superior  quality  have  followed 
from  the  mines  of  the  Wassaw  Company. 

ROADS. 

Surveys  have  been  completed  at  an  outlay  of  ^2,500  for  a railway 
between  the  seaboard  at  Axim  and  Tacquah — a distance  of  some 
forty-five  miles.  Tacquah  is  in  the  heart  of  Wassaw,  where  a dozen 
or  more  organized  gold  mining  operations  by  European  companies 
are  located.  Estimates  for  the  building  of  the  line  have  been  pre- 
pared, and  most  of  the  means  for  its  construction  are  looked  for  from 
the  government  of  the  Gold  Coast  Colony. 

The  railway  to  connect  the  French  colony  at  Senegal  with  the 
Niger  is  in  course  of  completion.  Sixteen  millions  of  francs  had 
been  granted  by  the  French  Government,  and  a further  appropria- 
tion was  made  in  June  of  4,677,000  francs. 

A wagon  road  has  been  finished  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Congo 
past  the  cataracts  to  Stanley  Pool,  from  which  river  routes  to  a vast 
interior  exist  in  all  directions.  His  Majesty  the  King  of  the  Bel- 
gians is  deserving  of  all  honor  for  the  support  he  has  so  wisely  and 
generously  given  to  this  work. 

An  important  work  in  opening  up  the  Lake  district  is  the  forma- 
tion of  a wagon  road  connecting  the  Nyassa  and  Tanganyika,  so  that 
steamers  plying  between  the  north  end  of  the  Nyassa  and  the  falls  of 
the  river  Shire  (a  tributary  of  the  Zambesi)  might  receive  goods,  &c., 
after  a few  days’  land  transit  from  like  vessels  delivering  them  at  the 
southernmost  port  of  Tanganyika.  This  enterprise  was  in  charge  of 
Mr.  James  Stewart,  a talented  engineer  who  left  the  canals  of  India 
for  the  lakes  of  Africa,  and  who  c'ied  of  fever  August  30. 

STEAMSHIPS. 

Twenty-five  years  ago  the  entire  steam  communication  between 
England  and  the  West  Coast  of  Africa  was  comprised  in  what  could 
be  effected  by  one  moderately  sized  steamship  per  month,  for  which 
the  African  Steamship  Company  received  a handsome  subsidy  from 
the  English  government  for  the  conveyance  of  mails.  Soon  a fort- 
nightly steamer  proved  to  be  decidedly  successful,  and  in  1869  the 
Glasgow  ship-builders  and  merchants  formed  the  British  and  African 


6 


THE  CONGO. 


Steam  Navigation  Company;  starting  with  three  steamers,  each 
of  about  1,200  tons.  This  company  now  runs  twenty  first-class  steam- 
ers of  an  aggregate  tonnage  of  30,000;  and  the  African  Steamship 
Company  owns  fully  15,000  tons. 

The  Anglo-African  Steamship  Company,  capital  ^500,000,  in 
50,000  shares  of  £\o  each,  is  a new  and  formidable  competitor  in  the 
remarkable  development  of  the  carrying  trade  of  West  Africa.  The 
vessels  of  this  company,  which  are  to  be  specially  constructed  for  the 
carriage  of  passengers  and  freight,  and  to  cross  the  bars  of  the  princi- 
pal African  rivers,  are  to  be  dispatched  from  London  and  Hamburg, 
and  to  take  cargo  for  Havre,  Rotterdam  and  Antwerp.  It  is  stated 
that  some  of  the  steamers  at  present  in  this  trade  have  paid  as  much 
as  15  per  cent,  per  voyage,  occupying  about  eighty  or  ninety  days. 
Each  vessel  can  make  from  three  to  four  voyages  per  annum. 

In  view  of  the  probable  development  of  the  traffic  and  of  conse- 
quent future  requirements,  it  has  been  determined  to  extend  the 
British  and  African  Steam  Navigation  Company’s  capital  to  ^750,000, 
in  15,000  shares  of  ^50  each. 

THE  CONGO. 

This  river  is  considered  the  largest  but  one  on  our  globe.  For 
one  hundred  and  fifteen  miles  from  its  mouth  there  is  a water  way  in 
which  ocean  steamers  might  ply.  Then  rapids  occur,  but  after  these 
are  passed,  as  they  can  be  bv  Stanley’s  road,  there  is  uninterrupted 
navigation  far  into  the  interior. 

Stanley  has  been  neither  idle  nor  silent  since  his  return  to  the 
“ Dark  Continent,”  and  his  indomitable  energy  and  self-command  are 
surmounting  the  most  formidable  natural  obstacles.  He  is  opening 
the  way  inland,  not  for  Belgium,  whose  enlightened  sovereign  has 
assisted  the  enterprise  from  his  private  purse  to  the  extent  of 
^50,000  per  annum,  but  (or  the  world.  What  Stanley  has  done  so  far 
to  let  civilization  into  the  heart  of  Africa,  and  to  open  an  avenue  of 
trade  to  the  coast,  is  thus  summed  up  in  one  of  his  letters : 

“ We  are  now  advanced  into  the  interior  as  follows  : principal  sta- 
tions— (1)  mouth  of  the  Congo  to  Vivi,  115  miles;  (2)  Vivi  to  Isangila, 
52  miles  (English) ; (3)  Isangila  to  Manyanga,  74  miles  (Geo.)  ; (4) 
Manyanga  to  Leopoldville,  95  miles  (Eng.) ; (5)  Leopoldville  to  Mowa- 
tu,  87  miles  (Geo.) ; (6)  Mowatu  to  Bolobo,  79  miles  (Geo.)  ; (7) 
Bolobo  to  Lukolela,  92  miles  (Geo.) ; (8)  Lukolela  to  the  Equator,  105 
miles  (Geo.) ; total,  699  miles.” 

Stanley  is  carefully  exploring  as  he  proceeds  and  has  made  dis- 
coveries, of  which  he  states — “ I have  discovered  another  lake,  Man- 
tumba,  north  of  lake  Leopold  II.  There  are  only  thirty  miles  dis- 


THE  CONGO. 


7 


tance  between  the  southernmost  extremity  of  lake  Mantumba  and  the 
most  northern  point  of  lake  Leopold  II.  The  outlet  of  lake  Mantum- 
ba is  at  a point  50  miles  south  of  the  Equator;  that  of  lake  Leo- 
pold 1 1 is  the  Kwango.  The  population  of  the  shores  of  lake  Mantum- 
ba is  so  dense  that  were  it  uniform  throughout  the  Congo  basin  we 
should  have  about  49,000,000  persons,  or  55  to  the  square  mile.  I 
also  ascended  the  river  called  Ikelemba  on  my  map.  This  river  is  the 
Mobindu,  and  not  the  Ikelemba  ; the  latter  is  now  said  to  be  a small 
river  higher  up.  The  Mobindu's  left  bank  is  studded  with  villages 
with  only  limited  spaces  unoccupied  between  them.” 

Should  the  Portuguese  re-assert  their  claims  to  the  Congo  terri- 
tory and  control  the  mouth  of  the  river,  it  is  feared  that  the  magnifi- 
cent prospect  now  open  to  commerce  and  Christianity  will  be  blasted. 
Stanley  writes  with  apprehension,  and  urges  with  all  his  power  that 
England  establish  a protectorate  in  the  interest  of  trade  civilization 
and  Christianity.  If,  he  remarks,  England  allows  the  people  of  the 
lower  Congo  to  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  Portuguese,  she  will  deliver 
them  “ soul  and  body  to  hell  and  slavery.”  He  says  : 

‘ • Despite  every  prognostication  to  the  contrary,  this  river  will  yet 
redeem  the  lost  Continent.  By  itself  it  forms  a sufficient  prospect; 
but  when  you  consider  its  magnificent  tributaries,  which  flow  on  each 
side,  giving  access  to  civilization  to  what  appeared  hopelessly  impene- 
trable a few  years  ago,  the  reality  of  the  general  utility  and  benefit  to- 
these  dark  tribes  and  nations  fills  the  sense  with  admiration.  Every 
step  I make  increases  my  enthusiasm  for  my  work,  and  confirms  my 
first  impressions.  Give  1,000  miles  to  the  main  channel,  300  to  the 
Kwange,  120  to  lake  Mantenba,  300  to  the  Mobimdu,  probably  800  to 
the  Kaissal,  300  to  the  Sankena,  500  to  the  Aruwimi,  and  1,000  more 
to  undiscovered  degrees — for  there  is  abundant  space  to  concede  so 
much— and  you  have  4,520  miles  of  navigable  water.  Such  an  ample 
basin,  with  such  unlimited  space  for  navigation,  with  its  unmeasured 
resources,  would  you  bestow  as  a dower  upon  such  people  as  the  Por- 
tuguese, who  would  but  seal  it  to  the  silence  of  the  coming  centuries.” 
Equatorial  Africa  is  not  to  be  colonized  by  Europeans,  like  Al- 
giers on  the  north  or  Cape  Colony  on  the  south  ; nor  is  it  a region 
whose  own  resources  can  defray  the  cost  of  ruling,  protecting  and  de- 
veloping it  like  India.  White  men  can  scarcely  exist  there  on  account 
of  the  climate.  Whatever  nation  may  obtain  predominant  influ- 
ence on  its  shores,  the  neutrality  of  the  Congo  ought,  in  any  case,  to- 
be  stipulated  for  by  the  Powers  of  the  world. 

The  International  Law  Institute,  at  Munich,  recommends  that  the 
Congo  region  should  be  kept  for  all  nations.  A feasible  plan  would 
be  the  establishment  of  an  international  commission  on  a footing  some- 


P UBLICA  TIONS.  ENGLISH  MISSIONS. 


8 

what  similar  to  that  of  the  Danubian  Commission.  Nor  is  the  ma- 
chinery wholly  wanting.  In  1878,  the  International  African  Associa- 
tion was  formed  for  the  establishment  of  a series  of  stations  which 
should  in  time  extend  across  Africa.  The  King  of  the  Belgians 
would  be  a most  suitable  president  of  an  international  commission  for 
the  regulation  of  the  commerce  and  navigation  of  the  Congo  and  the 
maintenance  of  order  and  justice  on  its  banks. 

M.  Savorgnan  De  Brazza  reports  that  his  plans  are  developing 
without  serious  obstacles,  and  that  they  have  been  far  advanced  by 
the  possession  of  Loango,  which  is  to  be  the  starting  point  of  the  fu- 
ture railway  to  Brazzaville,  running  through  the  valleys  of  the  Quillou 
and  the  Niara. 

PUBLICATIONS. 

Newpapers  published  on  the  West  Coast  contain  articles  that  do 
honor  to  the  intelligence  of  their  editors  and  contributors.  Sierra 
Leone  furnishes  the  Reporter,  Methodist  Herald,  and  the  Express  : 
Bathurst  (Gambia,)  the  Observer;  Monrovia  (Liberia)  the  Observer: 
the  Gold  Coast  Colony  the  Times , and  Lagos  the  Times  and  the  Observ- 
er. Africa,  a quarterly  review  and  journal,  is  published  by  the  Native 
African  Mission  Aid  Society.  A new  monthly  Magazine  devoted  to 
Missions  in  Africa,  has  appeared  in  England,  entitled  Central  Africa. 
Subscriptions  to  the  weekly  papers  and  monthlies  and  quarterlies  of 
England  and  the  United  States  are  rapidly  on  the  increase  from  the 
African  Continent. 

A valuable  monograph  upon  “The  Water  Highways  of  the  Interior 
of  Africa”  has  appeared  from  the  pen  of  James  Stevenson,  Esq.,  F. 
R.  G.  S.  of  Glasgow,  whose  bounty  has  made  so  many  things  possible 
in  Central  Africa. 

ENGLISH  MISSIONS. 

The  mixed  and  difficult  problems  which  have  embarrassed  the 
missionary  work  in  the  interior  lake  country  have  been  apparently 
solved.  King  Mtesa  is  now  affording  every  facility  for  the  establish- 
ment of  missionary  stations.  On  Tanganyika,  missionaries  have  been 
enabled  to  plant  themselves  on  a firm  footing.  In  Mirambo’s  coun- 
try, great  influence  has  been  acquired  over  the  King,  and  a prosperous 
work  has  been  commenced.  The  Livingstone  Inland,  and  the  Baptist 
Society  have  reached  the  upper  waters  of  the  Congo  from  the  south- 
west, and  the  vicinity  of  Stanley  Pool  has  become  a promising  mis- 
sion field.  These  successes  have  been  purchased  at  a sacrifice  of 
health  and  life  as  well  as  the  endurance  of  toil  and  privation. 

The  Niger  Mission,  in  charge  of  the  African  Arch-deacons  John- 
son and  Crowther,  continues  to  meet  with  gratifying  success.  Ten 
years  ago  heathenism  and  barbarism  prevailed  where  now  4000  are  un- 


AMERICAN  MISSIONS. 


9 


der  Christian  instruction.  45  adults  have  been  baptized  lately  :a  hos- 
tile King  has  ordered  his  people  to  observe  the  Sabbath  and  arranged 
for  Christian  sendee  in  his  own  court;  the  Onitsha  converts  go  volun- 
tarily to  neighboring  towns  to  make  known  the  knowledge  of  salva- 
tion, and  Arch-deacon  Johnson  being  invited  to  attend  one  of  them 
found  1500  persons  waiting  to  hear  him. 

Steamers  built  in  Europe  for  the  express  purpose  of  carrying  the 
“‘glad  tidings”  are  dotting  with  the  white  puffs  of  their  steam  pipes 
the  waters  of  the  rivers  Niger,  Congo  and  Zambesi,  and  of  lakes  Nyassa 
and  Tanganyika. 

AMERICAN  MISSIONS. 

The  Mission  of  the  American  Board  at  Bailunda  seems  deeply 
rooted.  One  of  the  missionaries  writes  that  he  found  spots  in  Maine, 
while  a district  school  teacher,  whose  “moral  standard  was  lower  than 
that  of  Chilume.”  A station  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  has  been  locat- 
ed at  Nyangwe,  on  the  Ogove,  150  miles  from  the  seaboard, 
and  another  station  is  to  be  formed  soon  still  farther  in  the  interior. 
The  Missionary  Bishop  of  Cape  Palmasthus  reports  some  of  the  dif- 
ficulties and  encouragements  to  Christian  effort  in  his  jurisdiction  : — 

“The  appropriation  for  this  work  for  the  year  from  September,  1 882, 
to  September,  1883,  was  $17, 500.  With  this  amount  and  what  could 
be  gotten  in  the  field,  we  have  supported  : One  bishop,  13  clergymen, 
13  catechists,  and  4 lay-readers.  We  board,  clothe  and  teach  near- 
ly 200  children  in  our  boarding  schools, and  teach  134  in  our  day-schools, 
with  557  in  the  Sunday-schools.  The  school  at  Cape  Mount,  with  its 
120  boarding-scholars  has  been  organized  since  my  going  to  Africa  in 
1877,  and  notwithstanding  this  more  than  doubling  of  our  boarding- 
scholars  with  all  the  expense  of  farming,  buildings,  etc.,  the  appropri- 
ation was  $17,500  in  1882  and  ’83,  against  $20,200  in  1876  and ’77, 
and  this  too  when  there  was  no  bishop’s  salary  to  pay.  Thus  we  see 
the  work  has  grown  while  the  expenses  have  decreased. 

“ Again,  if  we  compare  our  African  work  with  the  other  fields  un- 
der our  charge,  using  last  year’s  report  of  statistics  of  work  in  these 
fields,  and  the  latest  report  of  the  treasurer  of  our  Foreign  Commit- 
tee for  the  amounts  paid  to  them,  we  have  China,  with  336  commu- 
nicants, giving  $540,  having  566  Sunday-school  scholars,  had  2 con- 
firmed, and  receives  from  us  $44,617.  Japan  has  105  communicants, 
87  Sunday-school  scholars,  contributes  $500,  had  9 confirmed,  and 
receives  from  us  $23,957.  Africa  has  408  communicants,  557  Sunday- 
school  scholars,  gave  $890,  had  46  confirmed,  and  receives  from  us 
$17,868. 

“ I present  these  figures  and  facts  to  correct  what  I believe  to  be 
an  erroneous  opinion  in  regard  to  the  work  in  Africa.  For  some 


JO 


LIBERIA. 


years  past  there  has  been  a strong  tendency  to  look  upon  this  field  as 
the  most  discouraging,  and  of  less  importance  than  the  others  under 
our  supervision.  If  this  be  true,  it  must  be  traced  to  other  causes  than 
want  of  results  proportionate  to  the  expenditures. 

“ The  chief  cause  of  difficulty  lies,  as  is  well  known,  in  the  un- 
healthiness of  the  climate.  We  have  had  three  clergymen,  two  doc- 
tors, three  laymen,  and  four  ladies  go  out  since  I entered  upon  the 
work  in  December,  1877.  Of  these  the  two  doctors,  who  were  native 
born,  are  dead  ; also  one  of  the  clergymen.  Three  of  the  ladies  and 
the  three  laymen  have  had  to  come  back  on  account  of  ill-health.  Of 
the  two  clergymen,  one  had  to  return  permanently,  and  the  other 
temporarily,  and  it  is  by  no  means  certain  that  he  can  ever  go  back 
to  the  work.  Thus  we  are  left  with  one  lone  woman  as  the  sole  rep- 
resentative of  our  white  workers.” 

LIBERIA. 

Originating  in  a most  benevolent  purpose,  the  American  Coloni- 
zation Society  has  done  great  good  in  its  long  period  of  service.  For  six- 
ty-three years  it  has  given  continuous  aid  to  the  emigration  of  persons  of 
the  colored  race  to  Africa;  the  whole  number  thus  going  to  Liberia  hav- 
ing been  15,655.  Besides  these,  5,722  recaptured  Africans  were,  through 
the  efforts  of  the  Society,  enabled  to  settle  in  Liberia  ; making  21.377 
persons  to  whom  the  Society  has  afforded  homes  in  Africa.  Of  178 
voyages  of  these  emigrants,  not  one  vessel  has  been  wrecked  or  lost. 
And  this  movement  has  by  no  means  yet  ceased,  notwithstanding  the 
improved  condition  and  prospects  of  the  colored  race  under  freedom 
in  this  country. 

Liberia  is  far  more  promising  than  ever.  The  general  advance  of 
late  in  the  condition  of  her  population  has  been  marked.  In  the  re- 
cent Annual  Message  of  President  Gardner  it  is  stated  : “We  have 

been  blessed  during  the  year  with  health  throughout  ourcommunities, 
and  the  earth  has  yielded  more  than  her  usual  supplies.  The  rice 
crop  has  been  abundant,  and  the  coffee  trees  have  also  afforded  an  un- 
usual yield.  There  has  been  a manifest  improvement  in  our  relations 
with  the  Aborigines.  Roads  long  closed  have  been  opened.  The  na- 
tive wars  which  have  been  going  on  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Mount 
have  nearly  ceased.  These  periodical  wars  are,  for  the  most  part,  the 
result  of  long  standing  feuds  arising  from  the  horrible  slave  trade,  and 
they  will  be  effectually  suppressed  only  by  the  progress  of  civilization, , 
the  development  of  systematic  agriculture,  and  the  increase  of  wealth 
among  the  inhabitants.  Friendly  communications  continue  between 
this  government  and  Ibrahimi  Sissi,  King  of  Medina,  who  has  been 
assiduous  in  his  efforts  to  open  the  road  for  trade.” 


OUR  COLORED  PEOPLE. 


ii 


An  English  company  has  proposed  to  the  government  of  Liberia 
to  run  a telegraph  line  connecting  Monrovia,  Bassa,  Sinou  and  Cape 
Palmas  with  Sierra  Leone  and  Cape  Coast  Castle,  and  thence  by  cable 
to  Madeira  and  to  Europe  ; the  Liberian  government  to  protect  the 
wires,  stations  and  operators  within  its  jurisdiction. 

Liberia  College,  under  the  administration  of  its  able  and  learned 
President,  Rev,  Edward  W.  Blyden.  LL.  D.,  is  in  a condition  of  ad- 
vancing prosperity.  It  is  expected  before  long  to  be  removed  from 
Monrovia  to  the  interior,  for  nearer  access  to  the  natives  and  to  af- 
ford room  for  agricultural  and  industrial  departments. 

Liberia  has  now  reached  a period  in  her  history  when  she  sorely 
needs  and  is  fully  able  to  bear  a considerable  influx  of  enlightened  de- 
scendants of  Africa  from  the  land  of  their  exile.  An  important  addi- 
tion to  her  population  is  imperatively  demanded  if  she  is  to  go  on  ex- 
tending her  influence  and  pushing  her  free  institutions  among  the 
denizens  of  the  forest,  and  to  hold  her  own  against  the  encroachments 
of  foreigners.  The  natives  in  the  intei  lor  of  the  Republic  are  anxious 
for  the  planting  of  civilized  settlements  on  the  beautiful  hills  and  in 
the  fertile  valleys  which  diversify  their  interesting  country. 

OUR  COLORED  PEOPLE. 

The  colored  people  of  the  United  States  are  making  progress. 
Two  pamphlets— one  by  Rev.  Dr.  C.  K.  Marshall  of  Vicksburg,  Miss, 
and  the  other  by  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  Crummell  of  Washington,  D.  C.* 
show  this  by  facts  and  statistics.  Dr.  Marshall  praises  them  as  being 
the  best  peasantry  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  their  vices  no  greater,  less 
cringing  and  craven,  freer  from  begging,  more  manly  and  polite,  and 
having  a higher  estimate  of  human  rights  and  obligations.  “They 
are  less  profane — very  much  less — than  white  people  ; less  bitter,  vin- 
dictive, and  blood-thirsty  ; less  intemperate,  and  far,  far  less  revenge- 
ful.” 

Dr.  Crummell  proves  by  his  own  experience  in  Africa,  and  by  the 
testimony  of  leading  African  travelers  that  the  African  is  not  innately 
vicious.  He  considers  mental  and  material  improvement  sustained 
by  the  facts  that  the  freedmen  have  nearly  1,000,000  children  at 
school;  furnish  some  16,000  teachers  ; have  about  15,000  in  the  high 
schools  and  colleges;  about  2,000,000  members  in  the  Methodist  and 
Baptist  churches;  and  that  they  publish  80  newspapers;  that 
in  less  than  twenty  years  they  own  680,000  acres  of  land  in  Georgia 
alone,  and  over  5,000,000  in  the  whole  South  ; and  that  the  increase 
in  the  production  of  cotton  since  emancipation  has  been  1,000,000 
bales  per  year,  or  one-third  more  than  when  working  as  slaves  ; that 
$56,000,000  were  deposited  in  the  “ Freedmen’s  Bank  ; ” and  that 
colored  men  are  assessed  for  over  $91,000,000  of  taxable  property. 


12 


A VIRGIN  MARKET. 


Allusion  has  been  made  to  the  formation  of  the  Baptist  Foreign 
Mission  Convention  by  the  colored  Baptists  of  the  United  States. 
To  its  credit  and  to  that  of  the  race  it  should  be  said  that  the  Society 
has  lately  sent  two  educated  colored  ministers  and  their  wives  to  labor 
among  the  Vey  tribe,  in  Liberia.  The  African  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  has  taken  steps  to  raise  $1,200  annually,  to  constitute  a fund 
for  the  education  and  training  of  young  men  and  women  to  serve  as 
missionaries  and  teachers  in  Africa.  The  Spring  Hill  Baptist  Associa- 
tion of  Alabama  reports  that  “ there  is  no  subject  that  interests  the 
Africo-American  more  than  the  mission  work  in  Africa.  It  is  especially 
the  work  of  the  colored  Christians  of  America.  Over  two  hundred 
years  ago  we  were  brought  here  as  bondsmen.  In  1865  the  terrible  chain 
of  thraldom  was  severed  by  the  Omniscient  One,  by  which  five  millions 
of  people  were  liberated.  For  us  to  remain  dormant  and  leave  it  for 
God  to  use  other  means  and  others  as  agents  in  the  evangelization  of 
Africa,  is  to  be  in  every  manner  possible  criminal  and  wholly  recreant 
to  the  most  sacred  trust  committed  to  our  care.  God  always  redeems 
a people  by  members  of  the  people  to  be  redeemed.  When  He  would 
emancipate  the  Jews,  Moses  is  selected.  And  all  through  history 
this  truth  stands  out  most  prominently.  Ethiopia  will  never  stretch 
forth  her  hands  to  God  until  Ethiopians  shall  have  been  used  as 
agents.  Africa  is  to  be  redeemed  through  the  instrumentality  of 
Africans.” 

The  African  Trade  Society  is  an  organization  of  colored  men  at 
New  Orleans  for  the  purpose  of  petitioning  Congress  for  an  appropria- 
tion to  establish  a direct  postal  service  between  the  United  States  and 
Liberia.  All  our  West  African  mails  now  go  and  come  via  Liverpool. 

Rev.  Dr.  Henry  M.  Turner,  Bishop  of  the  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  himself  a Negro,  and  by  the  duties  of  his  high 
office  brought  into  contact  with  large  numbers  of  his  race  throughout 
the  United  States,  says  through  the  Christian  Recorder : “ There  nev- 
er was  a time  when  the  colored  people  were  more  concerned  about 
Africa  in  every  respect  than  at  present.  In  some  portions  of  the 
country  it  is  the  topic  of  conversation,  and  if  a line  of  steamers  were 
started  from  New  Orleans,  Savannah  or  Charleston,  they  would  be 
crowded  to  density  every  trip  they  made  to  Africa.  There  is  a gen- 
eral unrest  and  a wholesome  dissatisfaction  among  our  people  in  a 
number  of  sections  of  the  land,  to  my  certain  knowledge,  and  they 
sigh  for  conveniences  to  and  from  the  Continent  of  Africa.  Some- 
thing has  to  be  done.” 

A VIRGIN  MARKET. 

That  religion  and  philanthropy  have  something  to  do  with  the 
interest  that  the  European  world  has,  of  late  years,  taken  in  the 


A VIRGIN  MARKET. 


I S 


opening  of  Africa,  is  unquestionable.  That  Continent  may  be  re- 
garded now  as  the  only  virgin  market,  of  any  extent,  remaining  for 
the  rapidly  increasing  surplus,  everywhere,  of  manufacturing  industry. 
If  the  United  States  do  not  at  present  feel  the  want  of  such  a mar- 
ket as  much  as  other  nations,  the  time  will  come  when  they  will  no 
longer  have  the  advantage  of  England  or  France  or  Germany  in  this 
respect ; and  they  should  not  forget  that  they  have  a foothold  in 
Africa  that  no  other  nation  enjoys.  From  the  mouth  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean southward  to  the  English  settlement  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  there  is  no  one  spot  that  offers  greater  facilities  for  introducing 
trade  and  civilization  into  the  interior  of  the  Continent  than  Liberia. 
Slowly,  yet  steadily  and  surely,  a nation  is  growing  up  there,  whose 
sympathies,  if  we  retain  them,  will  give  us  practically  the  benefit  of 
a colony  without  the  responsibility  of  a colonial  system — a nation 
which,  at  the  end  of  sixty-three  years,  is  further  advanced  than  were 
many,  if  not  all,  the  colonies  of  America,  after  the  same  lapse  of  time. 
Surely  such  a nation  is  not  to  be  regarded  with  indifference,  but  may 
be  considered  as  no  unimportant  factor  in  the  commercial  and  man- 
ufacturing future  of  the  United  States — to  say  nothing  of  its  peculiar 
fitness  for  conferring  upon  Africa  the  benefit  of  Christianity  and 
civilization. 


\Editorial from  The  Sun,  of  Baltimore,  December  ji,  r<S8j.\ 


Fourth  Annual  Paper  on  Africa. — An  article  in  to-day’s 
Supplement  to  The  Sun,  prepared  by  Mr.  William  Coppinger,  sec- 
retary of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  presents  in  a compend- 
ious form  much  information  of  an  interesting  and  striking  character 
as  to  the  present  condition  of  the  African  Continent.  The  teeming 
populations  of  Europe  find  to-day  in  Central  Africa  a field  for  ex- 
ploration and  enterprise  not  unlike  in  its  promise  to  this  part  of  the 
globe  a hundred  years  ago.  It  is  a new  world.  Recently  brought  to 
light  by  the  disinterested  labors  of  men  of  the  type  of  Livingstone 
and  Stanley,  it  is  found  to  be  possessed  of  resources  of  the  most 
varied  character.  Peopled  in  large  part  by  kindly  and  hospitable  races, 
it  invites  immigration,  commerce,  and  the  stimulative  influences  of 
civilization. 

Portugal  claims  the  territory  at  the  mouth  of  the  Congo,  and  would 
like  to  extend  her  influence  far  into  the  interior.  France  has  also 
made  pretensions  to  territory  along  the  course  of  the  river,  and  has 
sought  to  establish  her  alleged  rights  by  force  of  arms.  But  England 


*4 


EDITORIAL. 


is  not  indifferent  to  the  commercial  advantages  which  the  unrestricted 
navigation  of  the  Congo  and  its  tributaries  insures,  and  of  which  both 
France  and  Portugal  would  wish  to  deprive  her.  Central  Africa  has 
thus  become  the  arena  for  the  display  of  European  jealousies  and 
rivalries.  Nor  is  the  United  States  unconcerned.  President  Arthur 
in  his  last  message,  after  commending  the  labors  of  the  International 
African  Association  in  opening  to  the  world  “the  rich  and  populous 
valley  of  the  Congo,”  declares  that  “the  United  States  cannot  be  in- 
different to  this  work,  nor  to  the  interests  of  their  citizens  involved 
in  it.”  “It  may  become  advisable,”  he  adds,  “for  us  to  co-operate 
with  other  commercial  Powers  in  promoting  the  rights  of  trade  and 
residence  in  the  Congo  valley,  free  from  the  interference  or  political 
control  of  any  one  nation." 

The  facts  presented  by  Mr  Coppinger  do  not  restrict  themselves, 
however,  to  any  one  region  or  to  any  one  point  of  view.  The  annexa- 
tions made  recently  by  England,  France,  Portugal,  Germany,  Italy 
and  Spain  of  various  portions  of  Africa  are  mentioned  as  indicative  of 
the  general  sense  of  the  value  of  acquisitions  in  that  long-neglected 
Continent,  which  lies,  nevertheless,  at  Europe’s  very  doors.  Explora- 
tion is  shown  to  be  still  busy  in  every  direction.  The  commerce  of 
the  Congo  and  adjacent  territory,  it  is  pointed  out,  is  not  wholly  in 
the  future.  London,  Bremen,  Paris,  Hamburg  and  Liverpool  have 
embarked  capital  in  the  establishment  of  steamship  lines  to  gather 
the  profitable  trade  of  the  West  Coast.  The  British  and  African 
Steamship  Company,  for  example,  runs  twenty  first-class  steamers  of 
an  aggregate  tonnage  of  30,000  tons  to  the  West  Coast,  and  has  re- 
cently a competitor  in  the  Anglo-African  Company,  which  is  opera- 
ting on  a capital  of  $2,500,000.  The  enhanced  value  of  African  pos- 
sessions in  the  eyes  of  European  cabinets  is  suggestive  of  the  value  to 
be  attached  to  Liberia  as  a foothold  for  American  influence  and  en- 
terprise. Mr.  Coppinger  is  fully  aware  of  its  merits  from  this  point  of 
view.  Liberia  he  describes  as  “far  more  promising  than  ever  before.” 
She  has  received  from  this  country  colored  immigrants  to  the  number 
of  15,655,  and  “this  movement  has  by  no  means  yet  ceased."  Immi- 
grants are  welcome,  as  “a  considerable  influx  of  enlightened  descend- 
ants of  Africa"  are  needed  in  Liberia,  “if  she  is  to  go  on  extending  her 
influence  among  the  denizens  of  the  forest  and  to  hold  her  own  against 
the  encroachments  of  foreigners.” 


